Reclosable carton



Aug. 11, 1964 R. J. HENNESSEY 3,144,195

RECLOSABLE CARTON Filed Aug. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Russ! J Hf/V/VFSSF) BY fiwmag ATTORNEY g- 11, 1954 R. J. HENNESSEY RECLOSABLE CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1962 N S E 6 MN M H M u E S w R BY a n O 49 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,144,195 RECLOSABLE CARTON Russell J. Hennessey, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, Ramsey, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Aug. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 215,944 2 Claims. (Cl. 229--51) This invention relates to an improvement in reclosable cartons and it deals particularly with a carton which is entirely closed during shipment and storage and which may be opened and reclosed when it is desired to remove the contents.

For many years cartons have been produced having a tuck end closure which can be reclosed after opening. One of the difiiculties of this type of carton is that they are not particularly tight packages and cannot be used for containing any granular or flowable material during shipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carton of the paste end type, commonly used for containing such products and which may be transformed into a carton of the tuck type after the carton has been opened.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton having closing flaps which are adapted to fold into superimposed relation in the same manner as a regular paste end carton, and to which adhesive is applied in a predetermined pattern. This pattern is defined by cut score lines which extend partially through the paperboard. As a result, when the outermost flap is pulled open, a portion of the surface of the area defined by the cut score lines is torn off, the paperboard separating between its plies thereby simplifying the opening operation. The second flap is next folded into open position, tearing off portions of the surface of the inner flaps. Thus, while the carton is effectively closed for transportation and shipment, it may be opened with little difiiculty.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton having an end closure including a pair of flaps which fold into a common plane, a flap the full size of the carton end folded to overlie the innermost flaps, and a second side wall flap is the full size of the carton and overlying the previously folded flaps. This outer flap is provided with a tuck flange or flap hingedly connected to its free end and lightly adhered to the front wall of the carton. By tearing off this tuck flap and using it as a handle, the outermost flap may be readily detached from the second flap. The second flap may then be pulled upwardly, separating it from the innermost flaps. This second fiap may then be torn off, leaving an end structure similar to that of a tuck top carton.

An added feature of the preferred form of the present invention resides in spacing the areas of adhesive between the innermost flaps and the second flap from the fold lines connecting these innermost flaps to the carton side walls so that the side edges of this second flap may be readily grasped and pulled upwardly to separate the second flap from the innermost flaps. This arrangement simplifies the operation of disconnecting the second flap.

These and other objects are novel features of the present invention and will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the drawing in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton after the outer flap has been lifted.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the carton end after the second flap has been torn free of the innermost flaps.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the second flap removed.

3,144,195 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view through the carton in closed position.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the carton after it has been opened and reclosed.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner in which the cut scores extend partially through the thickness of the paperboard.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

The carton is preferably made of paperboard having a plurality of layers adhered together, although certain types of solid paperboard may also be used with good results. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the carton is formed of a sheet of paperboard 10 having layers of thinner paper 11 and 12 laminated to opposite surfaces thereof with wax. When two layers of such paperboard are adhered together in face contact, the tearing of the glue bond has a tendency to pull one of the outer laminations of the paperboard from the central sheet 10 over the area glued if the glue bond is sufficiently adhesive.

The carton A is generally conventional in form and includes a front wall 13, a side wall 14, a rear wall 15, and a side wall 16, connected along parallel fold lines 17, 19, and 20. A glue flap 21 is foldably connected to the front wall 13 along a fold line 22. This glue flap is adhered to the surface of the end wall 16 to form a tubular, rectangular carton.

Conventional closing flaps 21, 22, 23 and 24- are foldably connected to the wall panels 13, 14, 15, and 16 along a fold line 25. Closing flaps 26, 27, 29 and 30 are foldably connected to the upper edges of these same panels along a fold line 31. The flaps 27 and 3t) differ from the conventional flaps of a paste end carton only in that they are notched as indicated at 32 along the edges of these flaps which lie inwardly of the front panel 13. In other words, the flaps 27 and 30 are shaped similarly to the flaps of a conventional tuck-end carton.

A tuck flap 33 is hingedly connected to the closing flap 29 along a fold line 34. The edge extremity 35 of the tuck flap 33 is preferably embossed so as to be slightly offset from the plane of the remainder of this tuck flap. This is done to simplify the grasping of the tuck flap.

The panel 26 is connected to the front wall 13 along the weakened line of separation 36 which may be a cut score line, perforated line, or even a conventional score line if the paper tears readily. Two pairs of cut score lines 37 extend across the flap 26 from the score nes as to the end edge thereof. The remainder of the flap .26 is preferably printed or otherwise treated to repel glue. This is done so that the cartons may be sealed. on a conventional carton sealing apparatus. If the carton sealing apparatus is capable of applying the glue only to specified areas of the flap, this printing in the area 39 which has cross-hatch for shading may be omitted. An area an at the top of the front panel 13 is also preferably printed with a glue-repellant material, this area being approxi- 'mately similar in size to the area of the tuck flap 33.

Small areas 41 in the area ll are left unprinted. As a result, when the tuck flap is adhered to the front wall 13 of the carton, it will adhere only in the areas 41 and accordingly can be separated by pulling outwardly on the tuck flap.

The end flaps 27 and 3d are provided with pairs of cut score lines 42 and 43 respectively extending thereacross in spaced relation parallel to the fold line 31. The remaining areas outwardly of the cut score lines 42 and 43 are printed with adhesive repelling ink as indicated by the shading 44 and 45. Thus, the adhesive will adhere only in the areas between the cut score lines.

The lower end of the carton is closed in the conventional manner and the carton is filled. The upper end of the carton is also closed in the conventional manner, and the tuck flap 33 folded down and adhered to the areas 41.. During this operation, the flaps 27 and 30 will be adhered to the under surface of the flap 2 15 between the cut score lines 42 and 43, and the flap 26 will adhere to the under surface of the outer flap 29 only in the areas between the cut score lines 37. While the carton is sealed only in these specific areas, a good bond is provided, particularly as the tuck flap 33 also assists in providing a tight closure.

When the carton is opened, the lower offset end of the tuck flap 33 is grasped and pulled forwardly and up wardly, the flap parting from the front panel 13 with comparative ease due to the small size of the areas 4-1 over which the flap is adhered. Using the tucl; flap 3?; as a handle, the outer flap 29 is pulled upwardly as indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. During this operation, the upper layer 11 or outer lamination parts cleanly from the intermediate layer and remains attached to the under surface of the flap 29 as indicated in 2. Obviously, the thickness of the strip retained on. the flap 29 is exaggerated in FIGURE 2 as well as in the other views.

After the outer flap 29 has been folded into the position shown in FIGURE 2, the end edges of the second flap 26 which is hingedly connected to the front wall 13 are grasped and this second flap 26 pulled upwardly. This second flap is readily grasped due to the fact that the flap is free of attachment to the inner along the end edges of the second flap. This action causes the strips of material defined by the cut lines 42 and 43, and designated by the numerals 46 and 47 in FIGURE 3 to peel from the innermost flaps, these strips being retained on the flap 26. After the front flap as has been folded outwardly as indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, this flap 26 is torn off along the weakened line 36, this flap being discarded.

The carton then becomes a conventional tuck end earton and may be reclosed by inserting the tuck flap 33 between the forward edges of the end wall flaps 27 and 3t) and the front panel 13 as indicated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings.

While the detachable areas in the innermost flaps are preferably spaced from the fold lines connecting these flaps to the end walls so that the end edges of the second flap may be grasped and pulled upwardly and inwardly. It is possible that this area extends to the fold lines if it is preferred. With such a construction it would be necessary to either grasp the free edge of the second flap to draw it upwardly or else to insert a blade between the flaps to permit the start of the tear.

In accordance with the patent statutes, 1 have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in reclosable cartons, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, 1 desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carton including,

rectangularly arranged side and end walls connected in tubular relation,

side and end wall closure flaps hinged to an end of the side and end walls,

elongated strips extending across said end wall closure flaps generally parallel to the lines of fold connecting these flaps to their end walls and being defined by spaced parallel cut score lines extending partially through said flaps from the outer surfaces thereof,

one of said side wall closure flaps being adhered to said end wall closure flaps only within the confines of said strips,

a pair of elongated strips extending across said one side wall closure flap in parallel relation and located generally outwardly of the strips in said end wall closure flaps, the strips of the pair being defined by parallel cut score lines extending partially through said one side wall closure flap from the outer sur face thereof,

the other of said side wall closure flaps being adhered to said one side wall closure flap only within the confines of the strips of said pair,

whereby as said other side wall closure flap is hinged open, a portion of the strips of the pair is progressively detached from the remainder of said one side wall closure flap in a direction longitudinally of these strips, and

as said one side wall closure flap is hinged open, a portion of the strips in said end wall closure flaps is progressively detached from the remainder of the end wall closure flaps in a direction longitudinally of these strips.

2. A carton including,

rectangularly arranged side and end Walls-connected in tubular relation,

side and end wall closure flaps hinged to an end of said side and end walls, j

said end wall closure flaps being folded in coplanar relation and one said side wall closure flap being arranged in face contact to said end wall closure flaps, 7

said one side wall closure fiap having a pair of parallel elongated strips extending thereacross from the free end thereof to the fold line connecting said one side Wall closure flap to its side wall,

said strips being located adjacent to, and parallel to, the end edges of said one side wall closure flap,

said strips being defined by a pair of parallel cut score lines extending partially, but not completely, through said flap from the outer surface thereof,

the other side wall closure flap being secured in face contact with said one side wall closure flap substantially only within the confines of said strips, whereby an outward pull upon the free edge of said other side Wall closure flap will progressively detach areas of said one side wall closure flap between said out score lines of each pair in a direction from the line of fold connecting said one side wall closure flap to its side wall to the free end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,177 Dye July 14, 1914 2,259,822 Kienlen Oct. 21, 1941 2,485,235 Graf Oct. 18, 1949 2,670,128 Stowitts Feb. 23, 1954 2,782,980 Rueckert Feb. 26, 1957 2,810,507 Saunders Oct. 22, 1957 3,009,626 Johnson Nov. 21, 1961 3,018,941 Wagarnan Jan. 30, 1962 

1. A CARTON INCLUDING, RECTANGULARLY ARRANGED SIDE AND END WALLS CONNECTED IN TUBULAR RELATION, SIDE AND END WALL CLOSURE FLAPS HINGED TO AN END OF THE SIDE AND END WALLS, ELONGATED STRIPS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID END WALL CLOSURE FLAPS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE LINES OF FOLD CONNECTING THESE FLAPS TO THEIR END WALLS AND BEING DEFINED BY SPACED PARALLEL CUT SCORE LINES EXTENDING PARTIALLY THROUGH SAID FLAPS FROM THE OUTER SURFACES THEREOF, ONE OF SAID SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAPS BEING ADHERED TO SAID END WALL CLOSURE FLAPS ONLY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID STRIPS, A PAIR OF ELONGATED STRIPS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID ONE SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAP IN PARALLEL RELATION AND LOCATED GENERALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE STRIPS IN SAID END WALL CLOSURE FLAPS, THE STRIPS OF THE PAIR BEING DEFINED BY PARALLEL CUT SCORE LINES EXTENDING PARTIALLY THROUGH SAID ONE SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAP FROM THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAPS BEING ADHERED TO SAID ONE SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAP ONLY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE STRIPS OF SAID PAIR, WHEREBY AS SAID OTHER SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAP IS HINGED OPEN, A PORTION OF THE STRIPS OF THE PAIR IS PROGRESSIVELY DETACHED FROM THE REMAINDER OF SAID ONE SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAP IN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF THESE STRIPS, AND AS SAID ONE SIDE WALL CLOSURE FLAP IS HINGED OPEN, A PORTION OF THE STRIPS IN SAID END WALL CLOSURE FLAPS IS PROGRESSIVELY DETACHED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE END WALL CLOSURE FLAPS IN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF THESE STRIPS. 